Gyroscope



E. F. CHANDLER.

GYROSCOPE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,1916,

' Patented Mar. 11,1921

2 SHEETSSHEET l- E. F. CHANDLER.

GYROSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1916. 1,370,285. Patented Mar. 1,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED TES GYROSCOPE.

Application filed June 23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDW'ARD F. CHANDLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borou h of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroscopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a partof this specification.

. This invention pertains to improvements in gyroscopes, and particularly to those gyroscopes in which the fly wheel of the same is adapted to beelectrically rotated. The invention however, applies more particularly to gyroscopes for employment in dirigible devices to control the steering thereof. The invention further pertains to improvements in gyroscopic control in dirigible devices in which the gyroscope is adapted to be spun-prior to a given time, and the spinning continued subsequently. For clearness and simplicity throu hout the following specification and claimsI will refer to my invention as applied to torpedoes, but I wish it to be understood that this term torpedoes,'- is not used for the purpose of limitation, but by the same I refer to any dirigible body, such as submarines, air-ships and other automobile devices. In my Patent #1,127,403. Gyroscopically controlled t0rpedo, I disclose a gyroscope adapted for torpedo control in which a source of energy is carried by the torpedo for spinning the gyroscope both prior to launching, and subsequently. The source of energy in this case is self contained and cannot be, and is not intended tobe augmented from the out side. i

It is important that the energy supplied to the motor gyroscope after the initial spinning shall not set up disturbing forces, which result is difficult of" accomplishment, where the motor gyroscope is, spun from two independent sources, and switched from one to the other, to say nothing of the complication of. the required mechanism.

An object of the present 1nvent1on is to provide a gyroscope adapted to be spun .prior to launching, and maintained subsequently from a single source of energy car- :ried within the torpedo, and in which the said source is energized by external means prior to the launching period. objectis {to-operate the gyroscopev from. a

A. further single source of energy, and without the Specification of Letters Patent.

. spinning operation.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921. 1916. Serial No. 105,358. necessity for employing the self-contained energy of the torpedo during the spinning operation. In the preferred form of my invention, I employ an electric motor gyro-.

scope adapted to be operated from a generator driven from the propeller shaft of the torpedo, the said generator being adapted to be operated by suitable means previous to the starting of the propelling engine. By this arrangement, the same generator supplies energy to the gyroscope at all times. Obviously the shaft might be revolved by suitable auxiliary motor means previous to the launching, or the engine might be started operating within the torpedo tube prior to launching. The Whitehead gyroscope as used at present, is brought up to a full spin in about one-half second; it is therefore obvious other conditions being equal, that by running the torpedo engine for about a minute would be ample to develop a full spin of the gyroscope fly wheel. Although such an operation would not materially reduce the energy carried by the torpedo, it is evident that by. suitable means energy from an external source might temporarily be supplied to the torpedo engine durin the A further object of the present invention is to provide means for reducing the weight of the gyroscope gimbal rings, and thus permit of using a comparatively light gyroscope fly wheel.

Further objects and. advantages will be brought out in connection with the description of the drawings herewith andjother objects and advantages will be apparent to those versed'in these matters. I

To better understand my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1, is a conventional side elevation of a gyroscope.

Fig. 2, is a conventional front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3, is a conventional plan view, partly in section. V 1

Fig. 4, is a schematlc diagram of atorpedo after-body, part of the internal mechanism being exposed. I

Fig. 5, is a cross section of. a part of a torpedo tube with torpedo in place.

Fig. 6, is a schematics-ide. elevation of a torpedo illustrating-an embodiment of my invention; I

g- 7;, is a s he a ieid agra n1ott9m operating system.

Fig. 8, is a diagrammatic representation of generator driving gear.

Fig. 9 is a part of torpedo afterbody partly in section.

In the drawing Fig. 1, 1 and 1 represent the parts of a suitable frame, in -which the gyroscope is mounted. 2 designates the fly-wheel of the gyroscope which is free to revolve in the carrying ring 3; said ring being supported by ring 4:. This is the usual method of mounting a gyroscope, and as will be seen it permits of rotation of the fly-wheel about its axis as well as rotation about a vertical and'horizonta-l axis. deferring to Fig. 2, ring 4 which is composed of an insulating material is provided with metallic pivots or bearings, 5 and 5, 6 and 6. Electric current is adapted to be conveyed from 5 to 6, in any suitable manner such as for instance, by a wire or lead 7, embodied 1n the ring 1. In tewise current is carried between pivots 5 and 6 by lead 7. Thus it will be seen that electrical energy supplied from any suitable source may be conveyed to and from the motor gyroscope through the leads A B; and by referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that although the fiy-wheel carrying ring may be made of nonconducting material, leads 8 and 8- may be employed for [conveying electrical energy to and from the brushes 9 and 9.

It is not the'purpose of this application to describe any particular form of motor gyroscope, it being optional with me to use any of the well known forms best adapted for my urpose. I have however for the sake of cearness indicated schematically an arrangement in which the gyroscope flywheel 2 is the rotor of a motor, and as the ring 3 may be composed of non-magnetic material, I have indicated 10 and 10 suitable pole pieces of soft iron upon which the magnetism developed by the coils 11 in the rotor is adapted to act for the purpose of rotating the flywheel 2, as will be well understood. 12 represents the motor commutator. There may be numerous substances or composition well adapted to the construction of gyroscope gimbal rings, but I prefer'to use a well known composition, commercially known as bakelite or condensite, or some other substances having similar characteristics, as I have found that such substances or compositions can be readily molded and produce very strong structures well adapted for this purpose. Also such a composition readily permits of molding in bushings and electrical conductors during the construction of the said rings.

By the employment of a plastic material such as above mentioned in the manufacture of gimbal rings, numerous advantages obtain; the parts thus made are water-proof, are nonconductors of electricity, and are not affected seriously by heat; furthermore the material is so light that it is possible to construct a very much more sensitive gyroscope for a given weight, than has heretofore been the case; also by molding the conductors within the material, the balanceof the ap- 13 and 13 for the purpose of energizing one or the other of the magnets, 14 and 14. This schematic arrangement is given merely to illustrate one of the numerous methods adapted forthis purpose, it being within my right to employ a serx'o motor, a direct mechanical connection or any other means well known in the art.

In Fig.4, 15 is the torpedo; 16 is the driving shaft of the torpedo, and 17'is a motor such as a turbine for driving the main shaft. '18, represents a source of energy such as a compressed air tank carried by the torpedo, and delivered by means 'of pipe 19 to the engine 17. 20, is an electric motor gyroscope of any suitable pattern, and preferably 'of the kind just 'described. 21 is a dynamo for operating the electric motor gyroscope 20, the same being connected by suitable conductors 22. 23, is a gear mounted upon the driving shaft of the torpedo and adapted to mesh with gear "-3, on the shaft of the dynamo so that when the drive shaft is operated the dynamo will supply energy-to the said gyroscope. 24, is a valve of any suitable construction illustrated for convenience as provided.v with an extension 25. 26, is a suitable contactmem ber adapted when engaged by 25 to place the gyroscope in control of the steering gear.

27, is a source of energy. for operating the gyroscope control gear. In the usual form of gyroscope it is customary to have a looking deviceas is well known in the art, and to unlock the gyroscope for the purpose of putting same in control of the steering gear. It is understood that this unlocking operation may be accomplished iii-numerous ways,

as for instance by I the presentelectrical means. 1 I prefer however toemployagymscope having meansfor placing'same in control of the steering gear" such asI-disclose and claim in my application #59535, filed Nov. 4,1915, entitled Methodof and apparatus for gyroscopic control. 28, is a lever suitablycarried by the torpedo carrier, or

the torpedo tube 30, as the case may be, and adaptedwhen actuated to operate the-valve 24 '29, is a tube leading from an external source ofsupply and adapted to be brought into operative engagement with the turbine nozzle for the purpose of operating the torpedo engine prior to launching, and'without drawing 'upon its internal supply of energy.' By this arrangement it will be i seen that prior to launching the torpedo engine may be started operating in any suitable manner, either from its own source of the first movement of the same will start energy flowing to the engine and then bya subsequent movement place the gyroscope in control of the steering gear at the proper moment; or if an internal source of supply isto be utilized for running the engine, the starting latch or the valve 24 may be so arranged that uponac'tuation it will place the gyroscope in control of the steering gear, and permit energy to flow to theengine in any well known manner at the time of launching." In Fig.5, 30 represents a torpedo tube having a door or closure 30which carries a suitable electric motor 31. 32, represents the conductors from an external source of supply for running the motor 31, and 32' is a suitable switch for the same. On the shaft 33' of the motor is a suitable clutch 33 adapted when the tube door is closed to engage the external end of'the mainshaft at 16 of the torpedo. The main shaft 16, is provided with a gear 23 adapted to mesh with a gear 23 on the dynamo 21. 20 is a suitable electric motor gyroscope connected by conductors 22 with the said dynamo. In this case the main shaft of the torpedo is adapted to be driven by the motor 31, prior to launching and upon launching the torpedo is automatically disengaged from the clutch 33; and by means of a suitable valve 24, actuated by the lever 28 the torpedo engine is started and thus the operation of the gyroscope maintained subsequent to launching. In Fig. 6, an arrangement substantially the same as shown in Fig. 5, is illustrated except that in Fig. 6, no torpedo tube is presumed to be used; the torpedo being hung in asubmerged position in any suitable manner from the underside of the torpedo boat, and by means of power delivered from the torpedo boat through the shaft 34 to the torpedo propelling means 35, the internal mechanism including the gyroscope spinning dynamo, is adapted to be operated prior to the release of the torpedo from the holding means and also by the operation of the propelling illustrateconventionally a method of acmeans of the torpedo prior to launching,

the torpedo boat is assisted in its travel by the propellers of the torpedo so that the burden of carrying the submerged torpedo is substantially eliminated without using up the energy carried by the torpedo. In Fig. 7, the dynamo 21 is adapted to be operated from the driving shaft 16 of the torpedo by means of the gears 23 and 23, substantially as previously described; but in this instance the preliminary spinning of the gyroscope is accomplished by driving the dynamo in the first instance, by means of a suitable electric motor 36, adapted to be supplied from a source of energy 37, located outside of the torpedo 15. The. gyroscope is con- 'ventially shownat 20,-and is provided with a suitable operating means 20 to control the steering motor 20 in any well kllOWll IllilTlner. For convenience of illustration one of the conductors from the internal motor 36, is illustrated as passing through an insu lated bushing- 38,'in the shell of the torpedo, the other conductor of the motor is ground.- ed on the shell of the torpedo and the external source of energy 37, is provided with a conductor adapted to contact with the in sulated 'motor conductor, and also with a conductor to contact with the torpedo shell as will be understood by those versed in these matters. In this instance gear 23 is adapted to be rotated on the main shaft 16, by the motor 36, and also rotated by the shaft 16, after energy has'been discontinued from the source 37 and the torpedo launched. Any suitable form of clutch may be employed to permit of the free'running of gear 23 on the shaft 16 and to further permit of the shaft picking up and carrying the gear when the said shaft 16 is rotated, and in Fig. 8 I 105 complishing" this end in which 16 is the main shaft, 23, is the gear, and 39 is a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft 16. Carried by the gear 23 is a suitable clutch member 40, by means of which gear 23 will be rotated when the shaft 16 is revolved and also by means of the member 40, gear 23 may be rotated when the shaft 16 is idle, the said member 40 in that instance slipping over the teeth of 39, as will be well understood. In Fig; 9, 15 is a torpedo only part of which is shown suitably carried by the member 30. 41'is a motor mounted upon the member 30, and adapted to be operated from a source of electrical energy outside of the said torpedo.v 21 is a dynamo within the torpedo, connected by conductors 22 with the gyroscope 20. 16 is the driving shaft of the torpedo and 23 and 23' are the gears by means of which the dynamo 21 is operated from the main shaft; in this instance bevel or spiral gears would be employed. 42 is a of the torpedo and secured to the shaft of the dynamo 21. 43 is a clutch member carried by the motor shaft, and slidably mounted Within the said motor and adapted to be withdrawn from 42 by means of the lever 44. As will be well understood, in this case the clutch similar to that shown in Fig. 8 should be employed at 45, to permit of the free operation of the dynamo by the motor 41.

- From the above it will be seen that I provide a novel method of gyroscopic control in which the gyroscopeis at all times supplied with energy from a source within the tor pedo, and in which the operation of the gyroscope may be started prior to the launching of the torpedo; furthermore it will be seen that I provide an effective means for increasing the efficiency of the gyroscope, making the same more sensitive and more readily constructed from the manufacturing standpoint. Where the dynamo is driven first from an external source of energy through the medium of an internal motor, and then subsequently from the main shaft of the torpedo, it will be desirable as previously pointed out to employ some form of clutch to permit the free operation of the dynamo when the first driving means apparatus is idle; and although many different ways may be devised for accomplishing this result, I have merely illustrated one simple method conventionally, it will be understood that I may employ same wherever it should be desirable in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Having thus described illustrative embodiments of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Ic1aim: y l 1. In a torpedo, an electric motor gyroscope a propeller shaft, an engine for driving the same, a'source of power for the engine, a dynamo adapted to be driven by the said shaft and means independent of said source of power'for driving the propeller shaft. v

2. In a torpedo an electric motor gyroscope, a dynamo for driving said motor, a

member operable from an internal source of supply for driving said dynamo, and external means for operating said member prior to launching. v

3. The combination with an automobile ,1,

the power'pla-nt is set in operation andthe gyroscope is spun up initially by the dynamo.

In a torpedo, propelling means, an electric motor gyroscope, means for initially opcrating the gyroscope comprising a dynamo driven by propelling means, and means for starting the propelling means.

6. In a torpedo, propelllng means, a dynamo driven by propelling means, and an electric motorgyroscope adapted to be spun initially upon the starting of the propelling means. c

' now." F. f CHANDLER.

Witnesses I EDITH D. BONESTONE, PAUL K. CLYMER. 

